Insider insights reveal impending contract decisions for Texans stars C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson Jr., with one extension appearing more probable than the other.
The Houston Texans have had a great few seasons, and that is due to the way the franchise turned things around starting with the 2023 offseason. This was when the organization decided to hire Demeco Ryans as head coach, and it was also when Houston selected C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson Jr. in the NFL Draft. Both players have played major roles in the Texans being able to advance in the playoffs in each of the last three seasons, but now it is time for the franchise to figure out some contract situations.
Stroud and Anderson each just wrapped up their third season in the NFL, which means both players are now eligible for extensions. Since they were both first-round picks, the organization gets to decide on the fifth-year options in their deals, and both options have already been picked up, as it makes more sense financially. The Texans can iron out long-term extensions with either player during the 2026 offseason, or Houston can wait until 2027 as neither player is scheduled to hit the open market until free agency in 2028.
It seems more likely that Anderson will receive an extension, while the organization might want to wait another season before committing to Stroud. The young quarterback has regressed in each of the last two seasons, and he might not be the star franchise quarterback everyone thought he would be in 2023. NFL insider Albert Breer shares this same thought, which he published in a recent article, "I believe defensive end Will Anderson Jr. will have a new contract with the Texans at the start of the 2026 season. I’m not as sure about QB C.J. Stroud. And that, to me, boils down to this: There is zero question about Anderson’s long-term viability as an elite player at his position; that’s not the case with Stroud, who has been up and down since a starry rookie year."
There is already a ton of noise surrounding Stroud and his contract situation, and Anderson receiving an extension would only make that noise louder. Anderson will probably make nearly $50 million annually on a new deal, and Stroud will likely be due more than that. Waiting to extend a player is always dangerous, as the market can skyrocket at any moment, which is something that has happened over the last two offseasons with edge rushers. The quarterback market could hit $65, even $70 million, by the time Stroud gets paid, which is something the Texans should be hesitant to do.